President Trump pressures Colorado over Tina Peters case amid wildfire aid dispute
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President Trump publicly demanded the release of convicted Colorado election official Tina Peters, linking the issue to federal disaster assistance, while Governor Jared Polis later commuted her sentence.
President Trump continued to press for the release of Tina Peters, a former Mesa County election official convicted of tampering with voting equipment, during the 2025 wildfire disaster response. The president warned on social media that Colorado could face "harsh measures" if Peters remained incarcerated, and the White House denied that disaster aid decisions were politicized.
Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser said the president’s statements were intended to pressure the state, noting that the administration subsequently threatened to withhold food aid, cancelled $109 million in transportation funding, and moved to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder. Weiser described the actions as "bullying" and said the state was fighting back.
Governor Jared Polis, a Democrat, later commuted Peters’ nine-year sentence after she had served less than two years, stating that the original term was excessive. Polis said the decision was based on his assessment of the case and not on presidential pressure.
Election officials, including Matt Crane of the Colorado County Clerks Association, said the controversy has increased threats toward election workers. Crane, a Republican, noted that the president’s platform amplifies misinformation about election integrity.
Peters, who has resumed speaking at election-denial events, maintains that voting machines are vulnerable, despite investigations that found no evidence of fraud that would have altered the 2020 election outcome. The Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold said Peters turned off surveillance cameras and allowed unauthorized individuals access to secure voting equipment.
Federal wildfire assistance for Colorado was eventually approved, and $47 million in water project funding was released following Peters’ release.